Australian Boulder Opal Specimen – 0.33kg, Colour on Both Sides

This boulder opal specimen is unusual in that its colour play shows on two faces rather than one, so it rewards being picked up and turned in the hand. Bands of cream, soft orange and blue run across a pale, translucent-looking body, with small pockets of ironstone matrix breaking through at the edges. At 95 x 45 x 50mm and 0.33kg, it's a solid, tactile piece of the Queensland opal fields with genuine presence from more than one angle.

About Boulder Opal

Boulder opal forms as veins of precious opal within ironstone matrix in the opal fields of Queensland — primarily Quilpie, Yowah and Winton. Unlike black opal from Lightning Ridge, the opal cannot be separated from its host rock; it's cut as a single solid piece, with the natural brown ironstone remaining as the stone's backing. This gives boulder opal its distinctive look — vivid colour against rich earth tones — and also makes it physically more durable than other opals, since the ironstone host is harder than the opal layer it carries.

Specifications

• Stone: Boulder Opal
• Weight: 0.33kg
• Dimensions: 95 x 45 x 50mm
• Form: Polished specimen
• Matrix: Ironstone
• Colour Play: Cream, orange and blue, visible on both faces
• Origin: Queensland, Australia
• Availability: One-of-a-kind — 1 piece available

Caring for Your Opal Specimen

Boulder opal's ironstone backing makes it more knock-resistant than other opal types, but it's still a natural stone and deserves care. Handle it gently, keep it somewhere stable where it won't be bumped or dropped, and avoid sudden changes in temperature — like moving it straight from a cold car into a warm room. A soft, dry cloth is all that's needed to keep it dust-free.

Provenance

Hand-selected by Joseph Bernecki, sourced direct from the Australian opal fields and set in his Sydney workshop. Meet him any weekend at The Rocks Market, stall under the bridge, Sydney. Read Joseph's story →

Common Questions